Bernadino Costa : Beyra Gouveio Branco 2023

Summer means heat, long days and balmy nights, which almost unconsciously leads us to seek out wines that tend to be white, light, fresh and aromatic. Dear readers and wine lovers of NM, our suggestion is Beyra Gouveio (100%) 2023. This is a wine that I would say is perfect for this time of year. A fresh, aromatic wine, ideal for enjoying as an aperitif. Produced by Rui Roboredo Madeira, a lover of vineyards and wine, who says: “It was in one of the most remote areas of the Iberian Peninsula, on the border between the Upper Douro and Beira Alta, and within my family, that my passion for the aromas and smells of this land that shape our character was born.
After coming into contact with many cultures of living and making wine in various parts of the globe, I returned to the great Douro Valley convinced that we have the potential to make the best wines in the world. Out of respect for nature and the way we cultivate our vineyards, my wines reflect my experiences, which smell and taste of my land, of schist, wet granite, rockrose, flowers and fruits of the field. (…) “With the Beyra project, we were pioneers in the concept of Altitude Wines.
In Vermiosa, among the highest vineyards in Portugal, I returned to my roots, in the same winery where I made my first harvest.” Although this beautiful nectar is a single-varietal wine, it still has the complexity and personality that all great wines have.
Produced from the Gouveio grape variety, whose vineyards are located in the parish of Vermiosa at an average altitude of 700 metres. They underwent a vinification process that consisted of stirring the fine lees ‘batonnage’ at the end of alcoholic fermentation for two months, followed by a brief ageing in the bottle until March of the year following the harvest.

Tasting Notes:
Greenish in colour with some notes, the aroma immediately reveals
tropical fruit notes, namely passion fruit and pineapple, as well as some
citrus notes. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, with fresh and vibrant acidity,
confirming the aromatic notes. This is a ‘dangerous’ wine, where despite
its 13.5% alcohol content, it does not feel strong, and because of its
freshness, one glass or two is certainly not enough. Ideal as an aperitif,
but also to accompany light dishes, such as fish, salads or tapas. Try it
and see for yourself.

BEYRA GOUVEIO BRANCO 2023
Region: Beira Interior DOC
Grape varieties: 100% Gouveio.
Ageing: stainless steel vats
Alcohol content: 13.5%
RRP: €13.00 (approx.)
Producer and Winemaker: Rui Roboredo Madeira